Pirates fall to Roosters despite season high

Story by Edward Nixon

Four first-half tries has powered the Central Coast Roosters to a 30-14 win over a spirited Cash Converters West Coast Pirates side in their Round 3 SG Ball Cup fixture at Morry Green Oval on Saturday.

With the result, the Pirates remain bottom of the standings with a 0-3 record, while the Roosters maintain their perfect start to the season to sit top of the ladder with the Penrith Panthers.

A slow start by the Pirates allowed the Roosters to pile on 20 unanswered points in the first 20 minutes to blow the game out.

Keen to notch their first win of the year, West Coast hit back – Kade McDonald’s first try of the season getting the visitors on the board in the 26th minute to take a 20-4 deficit into the half-time break.

Daniel Manning’s boys recomposed themselves and burst out of the blocks in the second half, grabbing the first points through Leighmon Hohaia Katene’s 39th minute try.

Katene, who played at halfback will look to cement a spot in the side for the rest of the season alongside halves partner McDonald, as the Pirates recorded their highest score of the season.

Some smart Central Coast play resulted in two further tries for the hosts in between Jackson Bond’s 57th- minute try, which McDonald duly converted.

McDonald has split kicking duties with captain Tyler Hunt this season, as the pair pose to be important attacking threats down the stretch for the Pirates.

After two weeks on the road, West Coast Pirates return home for a Round 4 clash against the sixth-place Illawarra Steelers on March 3 at Ken Allen Field from 11.00am.

At Webber Reserve, Willagee the Cash Converters West Coast Pirates continued their winning run against a spirited Willagee Bears team who will now look to prepare for their re entry to the WA Smarter than Smoking Premiership competition. Final Score Pirates 18 defeated the Bears 16